Gong for clocks.



A. w. OWEN. I 001w r02 oLooxs. APPLIOATION FILED 001280. 1909.

992, 1 38. Patented May 9, 1911;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR W. OWEN, OF WINSTED, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WM. L. GILBERT CLOCK COMPANY, OF WINSTED, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

GONG FOR CLOCKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. OWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winsted, county of Litchfield, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gongs for Clocks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improvement in gongs for clocks and the like, the object being to provide a very simple, compact and inexpensive device which is so designed as to produce a deep musical tone, which tone by reason of the construction is mellow and lasting.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved gong as it appears in place, said View being of the full-sized device. Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the plane of one of the sounding devices, the latter being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear end view.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a solid block of cast iron or the like, preferably of cylindrical outline, provided with a laterally oflset and rearwardly projecting portion or base 2. The area of the rearwardly extending portion is substantially less than the area of that end of the main body of the block 1 from which said extension projects. The offset portion is preferably continued entirely around the body 1, as indicated at 3, but extends rear- Wardly at only one side, as best seen in Fig. 3. It is this rearwardly extending portion only that rests against the wall or support 1, the said body being secured to said wall or support in any desired manner as by means of ordinary screws which may pass through openings 55. Projectin transversely into the body 1 are a series of lateral passages of a number equal to the number of strikers to be employed. The upper part of each passage is contracted for the purpose hereinafter described.

66 represent bars, the same being in the form of relatively small bars of suitable sounding material, said bars being preferaloly contracted at one or more points, as indicated at 6, Fig. 2. The upper end of each bar 6 is preferably flattened as at 6 to produce a relatively widened portion. The upper contracted end of each transverse passage is sufliciently large to permit the main body of the bar to be passed therethrough, after which the flattened upper end of the bar is driven into said contracted passage so as to be securely wedged in place, as seen in Fig. 2. Any other suitable method of securing the bar in nlace may be employed but I have found this method very successful and simple. As will be seen, each sounding bar is arranged axially in each transverse passage in the body 1, the larger diameter of said bore affording sufficient clearance around the bar to permit the same to vibrate without interference. As will be seen, the larger part of the head or rear end of the body 1 is held free of the support 4. By this construction I have found that an exceedingly mellow, lasting and deep tone may be produced. By varying the size and design of the bars 6-6 a scale of notes may be provided.

For use with clocks and the like, suitable strikers are provided for. each bar but since the striker construction constitutes no essential part of this invention, and is not claimed, it is unnecessary to illustrate or describe the same.

That I claim is:

1. In a gong, a main metallic body portion having a transverse passage therein contracted at its upper end, a sounding bar arranged axially in said passage and secured to and touching said body portion only at the contracted end of said passage, an integral portion extending rearwardly from one side of one end of said body to serve as a base for securing said body to a support, the area of the end of said rearward extension being substantially less than the area of the adjacent end of the body from which said extension projects, said extension serving to offset the rear end of the body from the support therefor.

2. In a gong, a main metallic body, an inthe rear end of the body, and a sounding tegral annular iaterallyfiextending flange at device carried by said body. one en thereo said an e extendin entirely around said body at said end, al in: ARTHUR OWEN 5 tegral rearward extension at one side only of said flange, the rear end of said extension being substantially less than the area of Witnesses:

OARABEL KINNEY, HARVEY L. SLAUSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

